CCC Semis Ships Volleyball to Gordon Thursday

SUFFOLK at GORDON
Date Time Venue Video Stats Series Last Meeting Last Suffolk Win Streak	Thursday, Nov. 3 7:00 p.m. Bennett Center Wenham, Mass. Gordon Stretch Gordon Stretch 2-9 Sept. 20, 2022, L, 3-1 Oct. 17, 2013, W, 3-0 L7

BOSTON – Suffolk women's volleyball remains in the hung for the 2022 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Crown as the fourth-seeded Rams make the trip to top-seed Gordon Thursday, Nov. 3 for a semifinal showdown at 7 p.m.

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2022 CCC WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT
Quarterfinals – Tuesday, Nov. 1
#1 Gordon defeated #8 University of New England, 3-0 – Box Score
#2 Endicott defeated #7 Nichols, 3-0 – Box Score
#6 Western New England defeated #3 Wentworth, 3-2 – Box Score
#4 Suffolk defeated #5 Salve Regina, 3-2 – Box Score 

Semifinals – Thursday, Nov. 3
#4 Suffolk at #1 Gordon – 7:00 PM – Live Stats | Live Video
#6 Western New England at #2 Gordon – 7:00 PM – Live Stats | Live Video 

Championship – Saturday, Nov. 5
Semifinal Winners at higher seed

MORE INFO: CCC RELEASE | INTERACTIVE BRACKET | PRINTABLE BRACKET

RAMS IN THE POSTSEASON

• Suffolk is in the midst of its 16th conference postseason.
• The blue-and-gold is the fourth seed for the third time in program history, first since 2019. The fourth spot in the field ties the highest for the blue-and-gold in program history.
• Suffolk is in the hunt for it's first-ever trip to a conference championship contest.
• Suffolk hosted its third tournament outing in program history, first since 2005.
• The Rams improved to 2-1 when hosting a playoff match after defeated Salve Regina in five sets Tuesday, Nov. 1.
• Suffolk played in a five-set playoff match for the second time in program history Tuesday night, first since the 1999 GNAC Quarterfinals, a 3-2 setback to Simons.
• The Rams won their first-ever 3-2 postseason decision with Tuesday's thrilling triumph over Salve Regina.
• The Rams escaped the quarterfinals for the third time in program history, first since 2019.
• All of Suffolk's semifinal appearances have come with Scott Blanchard on the bench.
• Under Blanchard, Suffolk is 3-3 in postseason play with three semifinal appearances (2018, 2019, 2022).

RAMS IN THE CCC CROWN CHASE

• Suffolk is the middle of its second straight trip to the CCC Tournament in as many years in the league.
• The Rams are the fourth seed in the CCC playoffs for the first time.
• Suffolk won it's first-ever CCC match Tuesday when it defeated Salve Regina in the quarterfinals, 3-2.
• The Rams will play in the CCC semis for the first time in program history Thursday.
• The blue-and-gold is 1-1 in CCC postseason matches with Blanchard on the bench.

LAST TIME OUT
Suffolk volleyball had a flare for the dramatic in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Quarterfinals Tuesday night as the fourth-seeded Rams, won the first set, fell in the next two, and powered through to take down the fifth-seeded Seahawks of Salve Regina at Larry E. and Michael S. Smith Court. The victory came via set scores 25-20, 24-26, 14-25, 25-15 and 15-11.  

MORE READING: Five-Set Thriller Over Salve Regina Sends Volleyball to CCC Semis

RAMS RUNDOWN
Suffolk (20-9) is on a seven-match win streak that dates back to Oct. 12. Over that stretch, the Rams have swept five opponents, used four sets for a victory and grabbed a five-set thrilling triumph. 

McKenna Keowen's 3.21 kps has paced Suffolk's 11.31 kps attack all season. Grace Cervenka (2.10 kps) and Jasmine James (1.73 kps) are consistent factors into the scoring as well. Harmony Johnson has held down the Rams' setter role with 7.60 aps to her credit. From the service line, the quartet of Morgan Kelsey (0.93 aces per set), Jayla Martinez (0.70 aces per set), Johnson (0.64 aces per set) and Tatum Kalt (0.64 aces per set) are all threats.

Kenzley Bell's 4.61 dps is the main defensive force for the blue-and-gold. Kelsey and Keowen add 2.33 dps and 2.30 dps, respectively. Alina Nowakowski (0.55 bps) and Cervenka (0.52 bps) power the effort at the net.

FIGHTING SCOTS FACTS
Gordon (15-13) locked up to the top spot in the CCC Tourney after defeating Endicott, 3-1, Saturday, Oct. 29. The Fighting Scots, who have only been defeated by one conference counterpart this year, Wentworth, swept eighth-seed University of New England in the quarterfinals to earn a spot in Thursday's semifinal. 

Valerie Nilan and Annie Murphy provide a one-two punch on the attack. The former provides 3.02 kps to the team's 11.18 kps, while the latter contributes 2.99 kps. Kate Howe sets up Gordon's attack with 9.29 aps. 

Nikki Batson leads the Fighting Scots defensive unit with 2.93 dps.

WE MEET AGAIN
In its CCC opener, Suffolk volleyball saw its six-game win streak come to an end Tuesday, Sept. 20 as the Rams came out on the wrong side of a 3-1 decision to Gordon at Kanas Court at the Bennett Center. The Rams first setback in 10 days was one of the closest matches in recent memory with set scores of 23-25, 25-23, 27-25 and 29-27.  

MORE READING: Volleyball Falters in Four in CCC Debut at Gordon

INSIDE THE SERIES

• The Rams trail the all-time series, 2-9, and have fall in seven straight against the Fighting Scots.
• Both of the blue-and-gold's victories over Gordon came in straight sets in 2010 and 2013, respectively.
• Seven matches were decided in sweeps. Suffolk is 2-5 in such decisions.
• A pair of battles went the distance with the Fighting Scots winning both 3-2 outings.
• Suffolk and Gordon went to four sets twice, including the last meeting. The Fighting Scots won them both.
• The Rams are 0-4 against Gordon in the Scott Blanchard era.
• Suffolk is in search of its third victory of the Fighting Scots, first since a 3-0 win Oct. 17, 2013.
• The blue-and-gold will battle Gordon in the CCC Tournament for the first time.

EYES ON THE MATCH

RAMS RECORD WATCH
Suffolk tied the program's win mark of 20 victories Tuesday night with the 3-2 CCC Quarterfinal triumph over the Seahawks of Salve Regina. The Rams have hit 20 wins just twice in program history, both seasons have come in the Scott Blanchard era. With a win in the semifinals Thursday, the blue-and-gold will rewrite the record books and become the winningest team in program history 

Individually, Harmony Johnson has the chance to do what no Ram has done before, handout 2,000 assists. The senior captain is just 16 assists shy of the coveted 2K mark. Earlier this season, Oct. 18, she became the program's all-time assist leader with her 1,822 career handout, surpassing a 12-year record that was held by Julia Sullivan (1,821 assists). 

Kenzley Bell moved into sole possession of second place on the Rams' all-time digs list Tuesday with her 1,075th career dig, displacing Dakhensey Marcellus (1,075) from the spot. Bell, who enters Thursday's tilt with 1,078 career digs, has her work cut out if she wants to claim the top spot as she is 172 behind the leader, Colbey Kennedy (1,250 digs).

STILL GOT GAME?
Still got game? Suffolk volleyball wants you to prove back for the program's first alumni game Friday, Nov. 11 at 6 p.m. at Larry E. and Michael S. Smith Court. 

MORE INFO: Volleyball Alumni Game Scheduled for November 11

WHAT'S NEXT?
The winner of Thursday's tangle advances to the CCC Championship Saturday, Nov. 5 and will take on the victor of the second-seed Endicott, sixth-seed Western New England showdown.